Meaning & Origins

Originally a short form of Margarita, the Spanish form of Margaret, but now commonly used as an independent given name. Its popularity in the 1940s and 50s was influenced no doubt by the fame of the American film star Rita Hayworth (1918–87).

English: probably from a variant of Burslem in Staffordshire, which is named from the Old English term burgweard ‘castle keeper’ (or the same word as a personal name) + Lyme, the ancient Celtic name of the district in which the town is situated.